Shenandoah County’s the perfect getaway IMO! It’s fairly close, and I always feel super refreshed after each visit. It’s so beautiful there! This time around, I stayed in a lovely air bnb in Woodstock, complete with a hot tub and swimming pool. Anywho, if you’re unsure of what to do or eat, steal my itinerary to make the most of your time away. And don’t hesitate to comment with any questions if you have any.
If you’re planning a trip to this area and want a stay that really stands out, check out The Valley Gramophone near Stanley, VA, a hand-built designer cabin in Page County with a wood-fired hot tub and a record room, about an hour and 40 minutes from DC.
Also, before we get into deets, a huge thanks to Shenandoah County Tourism for sponsoring this trip! It was a dream to work with them, and I hope we can collaborate again in the future <3
DAY 1
10am: Breakfast @ Bretzel’s
This cozy cafe’s famous for their pretzels, cinnamon rolls (plus other baked yums), and homemade food! It’s very much a fast casual vibe. You order at their counter, then grab an open seat at one of their tables. We ended up getting their pretzel french toast and biscuits & gravy (both were solid), but their cinnamon sugar pretzel with cream cheese frosting was elite.
FYI, Bretzel’s is attached to Strasburg Emporium, which was shockingly big, lol. If you’re a fan of antiques and vintage, you gotta go. They have over 60 dealers, and the space is 52,000 square ft (!!!!!). There’s a TON to see so make sure you get your browse on!
Address + hours: 160 N Massanutten St, Strasburg, VA // Th 10-3pm, Fr & Su 9am-3pm, Sa 9am-4pm
11:30am: Browse Local Boutiques
Strasburg isn’t a huge town per se, but it’s VERY cute. Parking’s free AND plentiful so grab a space and walk around! There are some really nice murals + shops in the area. I highly recommend checking out Clementine Vintage and Cherry on Top. The former’s a lovely retail shop with everything from tasty treats to handmade jewelry, while the latter’s a women’s clothing boutique.
12:15pm: Lunch at Old Dominion Doggery & Burger Shoppe
Old Dominion Doggery & Burger Shoppe is a MUST! They’re known for their creative hot dogs and burgers, and everything we got there was fantastic. They have a ton of fun options to choose from, but you’re also welcome to build-your-own if you prefer. They use high quality ingredients, and it’s obvious that they truly care about their food.
Minje got their Burger Combo (1/4 lb fresh beef + choice of 1 cheese and up to 4 regular toppings) for $9.99, and that came with fries and a drink. Such a great deal! It’s available Monday through Friday from 11-2pm if you want to take advantage.
I went with their Chicago Dog (for $9.99) and that came with yellow mustard, white onion, “Alien Relish,” a dill pickle spear, tomato, pepper and celery salt. I heard good things about their pork rinds so I got that + a side of their house made mac and cheese! Everything was delicious, and I was impressed with the glizzy. The flavors worked really well together, and I appreciated all the different textures.
Address: 133 E King Street, Strasburg, VA // W-Su 11am-8pm
2pm: Visit Shenandoah Caverns
We LOVED visiting the Shenandoah Caverns! All tours are guided, and you get to see 17 different rooms and passageways during your hour long visit. It’s about 56 degrees down there all year round so you may need a jacket! Also, it can be a bit slippery so make sure you have on comfortable shoes.
The walk’s about a mile long with a few inclines, and they’re the only VA caverns with elevator service. My fave spots were the Rainbow Lake reflecting pool + Diamond Cascade. Tickets are $33pp, $29 for seniors 62+, $15 for kids aged 6-12 and free for children under 5.
Afterwards, make sure you stop by their cafe to get an old fashioned soda. Minje and I got cokes (made with syrup on the spot), and they were SO yummy and refreshing. We got ours flavored with vanilla and cherry, and both were delicious. Highly recommend.
Address: 261 Caverns Road, Quicksburg, VA // Open 7 days a week (except on Dec 25th); their first tour begins at 10am, and there are no tours after 5pm.
4pm: Stop by the Route 11 Potato Chips Factory
I’m convinced Route 11 has the BEST potato chips ever. Seriously though. I don’t understand how they get them so crunchy, lol. Anywho, stop by to get a behind-the-scenes look at the team in action. You won’t be able to go inside, but you can watch from windows! NOTE: cooking times vary so make sure you double check before you go.
Now, onto the best part: they allow you to sample all their flavors for FREE!!!! I’ve only tried a few so I was excited to give ’em all a try. We got 9 total, and my faves were the salt & pepper, salt & vinegar (VERY vinegary, lol), Mama Zuma’s Revenge (super spicy, made with habanero peppers), and their current seasonal flavor, Yukon Gold. We may or may not have purchased several bags afterwards, lol.
Address: 11 Edwards Wy, Mt Jackson, VA // M-Sa 9am-5pm
6pm: Dinner & Drinks at Box Office Brewery
Located inside the historic “Strand Theatre” in Strasburg, Box Office Brewery’s a great place to go dinner. They’re obviously known for their beers, but they have some scrumptious eats to choose from as well.
They were voted best wings in the valley from 2021 till now so we obviously had to get an order. They had various flavors to choose from, but we went with their gochujang and garlic parmesan. Their gochujang didn’t really taste like gochujang per se, but it was still REALLY tasty regardless. It’s easy to see why they’ve won the accolade year after year.
As for drinks, I highly recommend getting a flight to try some different options. It’s $9 for 3 and $14 for 5. I ended up getting 3 beers and 2 ciders and enjoyed each one. The ciders aren’t made on site, but they’re from locals in the area! They also offer wines and NA beer.
Address: 177 E King Street, Strasburg, VA // M-Sa 9am-5pm
Day 2
9:30am: Breakfast at Flour & Water Co.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love Flour & Water Co. Their baked goods are absolutely amazing, and they could compete with any “big city” spot IMHO. Minje and I went on a Saturday so we were able to enjoy brunch, but if you’re unable to go, they still have pastries and all kinds of goodies available in the AM.
They’re a European-style bakery that specializes in bread sweets and lots more. They also offer lunch specials, Wednesday Pizza Nite & Friday Supper if you’re around.
We had their Ricotta Toast (topped with prosciutto, pistachio, honey, and house made ricotta), and a yum eggs benedict that came with a side of hashbrown casserole that was so good, I almost cried, lol. We also got a black forest cruffin, a cookies n cream cookie that was the size of my face, and a chocolate almond croissant (SUBLIME). You can’t go wrong with anything you get so go wild.
Address: 124 S Main Street, Woodstock, VA // W 7-3pm & 5-8pm, Th 7-3pm, Fr 7-6pm, Sa 8-3pm
11am: Soak in the views at Woodstock Tower
Woodstock Tower offers gorgeous views of the Shenandoah Valley. It’s about a 2-mile round trip hike (well-marked & relatively easy), and you get to enjoy a 360° panoramic view at the top. It was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and served as a lookout station aimed to prevent forest fires. Now, visitors can climb the tower to the observation deck! It’s especially beautiful during the fall so definitely make sure to stop by.
1pm: Enjoy lunch at Woodstock Brewery
I didn’t get to stop by Woodstock Brewery this time around, but I’ve been in the past! Located just off Main Street, this spot’s known for their craft beer and American fare. They’re located inside a really cool industrial-age building so it’s a pretty unique experience the second you step inside. They also host a lot of events (including live music) so make sure to check out their website to stay in the know.
Address: 123 E. Court Street, Woodstock, VA // M 11:30-9pm, T-We 4-8pm, Th 4-10pm, Fr-Sa 11:30-10pm, Su 11:30-8pm
2:30pm: Grab Dessert at Sugar Creek
Sugar Creek is the cutest ice cream shop, and they have so many different flavors to choose from. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and their patio’s expansive. The atmosphere’s fun and inviting, and their team’s as sweet as their ice cream.
Minje got a root beer float, and I went with a flight because I like options, lol. You get 8 different flavors with this, and my personal faves were the banana pudding (SO good), chocoholic, and blueberry cheesecake. They also have some dairy free + no sugar added options available!
Address: 150 S Main Street, Woodstock, VA // T-W 1-7pm, Th 4-7pm, Fr 1-5pm, Sa 1-8pm, Su 2-7pm
4pm: Sip on wines at Wolf Gap Vineyard
Afterwards, head to Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery for a lovely tasting room experience. They were founded in 2004, and they’re located on a 48-acre estate with stunning views of the Great North Mountain.
They have an impressive selection of wines, and their bottles are cultivated from vine to wine on site. They have plenty of award winning options, but my personal faves were the Chambourcin Bleu and Blueberry Wine. I also really enjoyed their rosé! As for pricing, our flight of 4 wines was $14 each, but the full tasting experience is only $1 more.
Address: 123 Stout Road, Edinburg, VA // Open 7 days a week from 12-6pm, open till 9pm on First Friday
7pm: Head to Woodstock Cafe for Dinner
Bring your trip to a close on a high (and I mean HIGH) note with dinner at Woodstock Cafe. I’d honestly come back to Shenandoah County just to eat dinner here again. Owners Nikki Grant & Chef Jose Arevalos are doing amazing things, and they deserve all the hype. So, here’s what we got:
- Parker House Rolls ($7): served piping hot with housemade cultured butter and local honey. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds. It took me every ounce of self control not to inhale the entire plate. This is a MUST!
- Burrata ($12): if I see burrata on a menu, I will 100% get it. They topped theirs with candied sweet potatoes, arugula + pumpkin seeds and served it with a side of lavash. It was autumnal magic at its finest.
- Calamari ($12): another banger! Fried to crisp perfection and served with onion petals, zucchini, and a tasty chili sorghum aioli.
- Sweet Corn Agnolotti ($22): Quite possibly the yummiest agnolotti I’ve had in a minute. This came with guanciale, potato, mimolette, and scallion, and was SUBLIME. Apparently, this is one of their staples, and upon enjoying it, it’s easy to see why. If this is on the menu when you go, definitely make sure to order it.
- D’Artagnan Grass Fed Ribeye ($37): we got ours cooked medium rare, and it was perfect. It was slathered in Shenandoah ramp butter and served with potato “pave” fries. Exquisite.
They get really busy so reservations are encouraged. And go BIG when you dine here because everything’s most likely going to be amazing. Minje and I got a lot between the two of us, but now I wonder if I should’ve gotten another pasta to try, lol.
In addition to delicious eats, they have a strong beverage program as well! Their espresso features beans that are roasted locally from Aperture Coffee, and they carry tons of different wines + a nice selection of cocktails & NA options.
Address: 117 S Main Street, Woodstock, VA // M-W 8-3pm, Th-Fr 8-4pm & 5-8:30pm, Sa 9-4pm & 5-8:30pm, Su 9-3pm
Anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed this travel post featuring Shenandoah County! I’m curious to hear if you’ve been to any of these spots. Do you have recs you’d like to share with me? Let me know by commenting below, Nomsters.
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